Alabama Statutes

§ 13A-3-1 — Mental Disease or Defect

Alabama § 13A-3-1
JurisdictionAlabama
Title 13ACriminal Code
Ch. 3Defenses
Art. 1Responsibility

This text of Alabama § 13A-3-1 (Mental Disease or Defect) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ala. Code § 13A-3-1 (2026).

Text

(a)It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for any crime that, at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a result of severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or wrongfulness of his acts. Mental disease or defect does not otherwise constitute a defense.
(b)“Severe mental disease or defect” does not include an abnormality manifested only by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct.
(c)The defendant has the burden of proving the defense of insanity by clear and convincing evidence.

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Legislative History

(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §501; Acts 1988, No. 88-654, p. 1051, §2.)

Nearby Sections

15
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Alabama § 13A-3-1, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/al/13A-3-1.